Apostrophes are never used to form the plural of any proper noun. Plural names of people and other proper nouns are created by adding s or es. Most names ending in es, s, or z, use es to form the plural.

The Taylors will attend.

The Edwardses and Charleses can be added to the list.

The Gonzalezes were invited.

If the plural rule results in an awkward construction, rewrite the sentence.

The art show collection included seven paintings by Velasquez

seven Velasquezes

policymaking

Always one word.

possessives

Make singular nouns possessive by adding ’s; make regular plural nouns ending in s possessive by adding only an apostrophe; plurals lacking an s are treated like singular nouns:

a student’s right, students’ duties, women’s lounge

Certain uninflected singular nouns that look like plurals, such as species and series, are treated like plurals to form the possessive:

The lecture series’ costs will be covered by the department.

Do not add ’s to a word ending in s when it is describing a place, entity, event, etc.

Veterans Day, Visitors Bureau, a teachers college

When a proper name ends in s, add only an apostrophe for the possessive:

Dickens’ novels

Plural proper nouns add an apostrophe (no s) to indicate possession:

The reception will be at the Taylors’ home. The Joneses’ tuition payment has been filed.

When a word ends with the s sound, but doesn’t end in s, use ’s.

Gonzalez’s briefcase.

post, base

Post refers to an Army installation. An Army post, but an Air Force base. See base, post.

post-

In general, don’t hyphenate words with a post-prefix:

postgraduate, postsecondary
BUT post-Freudian, post-Darwinian

pre-

Don’t hyphenate words with a pre- prefix unless the word that follows begins with an e